Leicester specialist authors key chapter in major dietetics textbook
A Leicester dietitian and researcher has helped shape the latest edition of one of the UK’s leading dietetics textbooks, published during the British Dietetic Association’s Dietitians Week celebrations.
Dr Duane Mellor, Senior Specialist Dietitian in Paediatric Diabetes at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Honorary Associate Professor at the Leicester Diabetes Centre and member of the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Lifestyle theme, is one of the editors of the newly published seventh edition of the Manual of Dietetic Practice. He has also authored three chapters in the new edition.
Widely regarded as an authoritative reference text for dietitians in the UK and internationally, the Manual of Dietetic Practice supports both the teaching and clinical practice of dietetics and nutrition care. The new edition marks 90 years of the British Dietetic Association’s commitment to supporting dietitians and strengthening the profession.
The updated manual brings together contributions from more than 260 authors from across healthcare, academia, charities and industry, reflecting the breadth of modern dietetic practice.
The seventh edition includes major updates and emerging areas of practice, including personalised nutrition, genetics and genomics, advanced practice roles, neurodivergence, long COVID, avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), frailty, multimorbidity, fertility nutrition and sustainable diets.
The publication has also introduced a revised structure organised into six sections covering professional practice, public health, food provision, nutrition across the life course, adult clinical dietetics and paediatric dietetics.
Alongside the textbook, Dr Mellor is lead author on an editorial published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics titled Celebrating Dietetic Evidence Informing Practice: The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and the Manual of Dietetic Practice.
The editorial highlights how dietetic research informs clinical care and education, it explores the relationship between evidence generation and real-world dietetic practice. It also reflects on how the profession has evolved in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, and recognises the importance of collaboration across specialties to develop evidence-based guidance for future generations of dietitians.
The editorial also highlights how research published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics has helped shape guidance and practice in areas including chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity management, telemedicine, malnutrition and communication skills in dietetics.
Dr Mellor said: “It has been a privilege to contribute to a publication that has supported generations of dietitians in both education and clinical practice. The new edition reflects how much the profession has evolved in recent years, particularly in response to emerging areas such as personalised nutrition, neurodivergence, long COVID, and sustainable diets. The manual also highlights the collaborative nature of modern dietetics and the importance of ensuring research continues to shape real-world patient care.
“Through both the Manual of Dietetic Practice and our accompanying editorial, we wanted to demonstrate how evidence can support clinicians, educators and future generations of dietitians as the profession continues to develop.”
Photo credit: Mike Sewell 2023, Pictured is Duane Mellor
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